Built in 1852, the Inn at Turner's Mill reflected the building's rich history, with homey fireplaces, rustic walls, antiques and traditional American fare. Before closing in 2007, it was a go-to spot for formal events, entertaining clients and romantic dinners, with a more lively downstairs tavern.

AFTER: Rosewood Grill

"We built on that second personality [the tavern] had," says George Schindler of Hospitality Restaurants, which opened Rosewood Grill on the Inn's ground floor in January 2010. "To the people in Hudson, what the tavern represented was the type of atmosphere we had in mind." A renovation expanded the tavern's size, adding sleek leather seating and polished woods to the existing space and rustic rough-hewn tables and unpolished granite counters to the new space. "We made the new space look as lived-in as possible," says Schindler, "and the old space look as polished as a 157-year-old building can be."
36 E. Streetsboro St., Hudson, 330-656-2100

BEFORE: Baricelli Inn

Housed in an 1896 mansion, the Baricelli Inn attracted regional and national attention for the classic dishes coming out of chef Paul Minnillo's kitchen. Before closing last July, it had developed a reputation for being expensive (though briefly did drop its prices to adjust to the poor economy) and had never added a bar or updated its mid-•80s decor of aqua, purple and salmon hues.

AFTER: Washington Place Bistro

"There was nothing wrong with the Baricelli, but the world around them changed," says Scott Kuhn, who reopened the Little Italy space as Washington Place Bistro in December. Kuhn overhauled the decor, adding modern lighting, cherry and earth-toned furniture and neutral wall colors. Such changes provided a much-needed update to the Baricelli Inn's tired decor but also "made it warm and inviting ... approachable for someone from 25 to 65," Kuhn says. He didn't change the existing floor plan, but Kuhn added an open kitchen "and a humongous bar," he says. "The bar is a place for energy. It's totally illuminated, ... so it glows."
2203 Cornell Road, Cleveland, 216-791-6500, washingtonplacelittleitaly.com